US sportswear firm signs up Mageean

CIARA MAGEEAN has secured the most lucrative sponsorship deal in the history of Irish junior athletics after signing a six-figure deal with sportswear giants New Balance.

The agreement will provide the teenager with flights to and from all competitions, warm weather training and training gear.

“I’m very excited,” she said. “I share many of the same values and philosophies as New Balance and after talking to several of their athletes, I’m excited to race for a brand that has embraced me like a supportive family.”

Mageean took silver at the 2010 World Junior Championships in Canada in the 1500m – the only non-African born athlete to medal in the 1500m or longer. She also confirmed her participation at the Woodie’s DIY Irish Indoor Championships in February.

Meanwhile, national inter-counties cross-country champion Joe Sweeney (Dundrum South Dublin AC), and reigning national champion Mark Kenneally (Clonliffe Harriers AC), have been named on the nine-man European Select Team for the International Team Challenge, which is incorporated into today’s Great Edinburgh International Cross-Country race. The team will compete over 8km against British and American teams.

Kenneally finished eighth in the European cross-country championships in 2009, while Sweeney was 21st in the Algarve last month.

Both athletes will have next month’s national inter-clubs cross-country championships in mind with a view to competing in the world cross-country championships in March.

The European team is captained by Ukranian Sergey Lebid, who won his ninth European cross-country title in December, and will also include Ayad Lamdassam (Spain), Abdellatif Meftah (France), Jeroen D’Hoedt (Belgium), Mourad Amdouni (France), Jesus Espana (Spain) and Youssef El Kalai (Portugal).

The USA team is led Galen Rupp, while Mo Farah will be chasing the individual title as well as leading the British squad.

A number of other Irish athletes will also be in action. Mark Christie (Mullingar Harriers), Dan and Michael Mulhare (North Laois) and Stephen Scullion (Belfast) run in Men’s International 4k race against afield that includes 2008 Olympic 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop (Kenya) and reigning European 1500m champion Arturo Casado.